Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if, after completing the application form, I find that I will be moving to a different area?
Before the opportunity class selection committees
meet in September you should write to the Unit with your new address. The Unit will forward your application to the appropriate committee. If you write after the selection committees have met, your application may need to be referred to an appeals panel and will be considered subject to your child's academic merit and the availability of places.
What provision is made for students from non-government schools?
The selection procedures are exactly the same for all children. However, these students will be zoned according to their residential address.
What can I do to prepare my child for the Opportunity Class Placement Test?
Because it is an ability test, coaching or practice is not likely to help very much. Students will be given practice questions before the test begins. If you want to give your child additional help, practice with the past tests on this website or with any type of multiple choice questions will increase familiarity with the format and techniques.
What happens if my child gets sick on the day of the test?
You should contact the Unit immediately and ask for an Illness/Misadventure Form. The form should be returned to the Unit, together with evidence of your child's illness, whether or not he or she attempted the test. The selection committee will then consider the illness/misadventure claim as part of the application. It is generally better to attempt the test than to miss it. Children who miss out on the test may be considered on their moderated school assessment scores or, if these are not available, on any alternative evidence submitted.
If my outcome letter indicates that my child is unsuccessful, can his or her name be placed on a reserve list?
No. Three key words or phrases are used in outcome letters: 'offer', 'reserve list' and 'unsuccessful'. Selection committees decide the children who will receive offers and those who will be placed on the reserve (waiting) list. These children have higher scores than those who are unsuccessful.
Do children from opportunity classes automatically get into selective high schools when they reach Year 7?
There is no automatic entry into selective high
schools. Children from opportunity classes must
compete with all other candidates for entry to
selective high schools.
If my child is unsuccessful for opportunity class placement, should I cancel my plans to apply for selective high school entry in the future?
The entry requirements for opportunity class
placement and selective high school placement can
vary significantly. Moreover, there is scope for
improvement in the ability and performance of
students over the two years between application for opportunity class and selective high school placement. There are more places in selective high schools than there are in opportunity class.
What does the Opportunity Class Placement Test tell me about my child’s performance?
The Opportunity Class Placement Test is designed to help identify students for entry into opportunity classes on the basis of academic merit. It is not meant to identify the student's strengths and weaknesses in English language or mathematics performance. The student's primary school is in a far better position to advise you on your child's performance in these areas.